An Investigation on the Frequency Dependence of Soil Electrical ParametersLee, Bok-Hee; Kim, Ki-Bok;

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the frequency-dependent electrical parameters for different types of soil as a function of moisture content. The frequency dependence of soil electrical parameters is very important in the design of grounding systems. In fact, the performance of grounding systems is greatly dependent upon various factors such as soil type, particle size, water content, temperature, frequency, and the like. The resistivity and relative permittivity for four different soils were measured and analyzed in the frequency range of 1kHz - 1MHz. Soil resistivity declined as moisture content and frequency increased. In particular, the frequency dependence of soil resistivity was significant as the moisture content was low. In contrast, the relative permittivity of soil dramatically declined at the frequency of 10kHz or below as the moisture content increased, showing the opposite pattern in terms of variation patterns, compared to resistivity.